The figure kept her pace. Quietly, and without suspicion, she slid along the bridge then angled to the left. The buildings here were fashioned from metal and apparently had been built with no specific plan in mind. They were cloaked in rust and branched into odd directions as if rooms had been added out of necessity rather than design.
The woman pushed one of the makeshift doors open a crack and slipped inside. Daniela jogged a few paces to catch up then peered in. The walls were streaked with corrosion and an orange light danced over them. Daniela assumed that a fire was lit somewhere inside. The hooded figure had come to a stop on a wide metal catwalk that had been suspended over a two-story drop. She stood motionless and with her back facing the door.
Daniela gripped the gun with both hands and eased inside. Her feet moved forward, one in front of the other as she advanced. She was about to lift her weapon when a raspy voice came from the woman before her.
“Why you follow me?” she asked.
Daniela stopped abruptly. She waited, and when the woman failed to move, she spoke. “I’m looking for two women who attacked me earlier today.”
Slowly, the woman turned to face her. She was young, no more than thirty, and her face was smudged with dirt. She cocked her head to one side and long, tangled braids spilled from her cloak. She was hardly dressed like the witches from the cemetery. She wore a dirty white tank top, a short flared skirt, torn mesh stockings, heavy boots and odd trinkets that dangled from a belt worn low around her hips. What Daniela had originally thought was a crystal in her hands, was actually a set of bent silver forks.
The woman noticed Daniela’s attention on the items and with a suspicious look, she quickly slipped them into a bulging pouch that was slung over her shoulder. “You…attacked…in Tiraghol?” she asked, and keeping her head low, she moved a little closer.
Daniela held her position, poised and with the gun held firmly at her side. The woman seemed ordinary enough, yet there was something about her that gave Daniela the impression she was far from normal. She wasn’t sure if it was the peculiar way the woman cocked her head from side to side, or the way her eyes dipped over her, or her apparent lack of a vocabulary. Whatever it was, it was definitely unnerving.
“No,” Daniela responded. “I was attacked in a cemetery.”
From the corner of her eye she watched as the woman began to circle her, moving close to examine her clothing. Daniela didn’t move, but her muscles tensed.
The woman sniffed her once, then again. “You attacked on surface?”
“Yes.” Daniela’s head turned to the right as the hooded figure came around to face her as before.
The woman sniffed her again and her brows pulled together. “You human?”
Daniela regarded her incredulously. “Yes, I would like to think so,” she responded with a hint of sarcasm.
The woman eased back a few steps and a yellow-toothed grin leaped to her face. “Human,” she reiterated with something bordering on exhilaration.
Daniela frowned at her. Something was definitely not right. Before she could even decide what her next move would be, the woman threw her head back and emitted a chilling cry. It was shrill and unnatural and reminded her of the squawk of a bird.
“Human,” she said again as she inched back a few more steps.
Daniela raised the gun. “Don’t move,” she told her. “You’re going to tell me exactly what you know about the Raba witch clan.”
Laughter erupted in the other woman’s throat. It lasted only a few seconds before she sobered. She glared at Daniela, her eyes dark and hungry. Daniela cocked the gun. The small sound echoed throughout the building, but it was soon followed by another sound. It was the clanking of metal. It started off slow then built into a feverous clamor as if something wild was approaching.
Daniela glanced about. The sounds seemed to come from all directions. She backed up. It was obvious that she wasn’t going to get any information out of the woman. And she definitely didn’t want to face whatever lurked in the darkness. The wise thing to do was leave. She began moving backward toward the exit.
A sudden noise sounded behind her and she spun around, aiming her gun at the figure that had come to land a few feet away from her. The man straightened. He was tall and also dressed in layers of dirty clothing. She wasn’t given the chance to react, for a moment later, six others joined them.
Daniela spun in a circle, her weapon finding each new face. The way they watched her was a clear indication that there would be no easy route of escape for her. She inched backward until she felt the cold metal side rail of the catwalk pressed against her lower back. She wondered if she’d just stumbled into a den of witches. Perhaps the very ones she sought. The clanking of chains echoed about them and the group parted. From the other side of the metal catwalk, Daniela could see a figure moving in the dark. It passed into the flickering light of the fire that burned in a nearby metal drum. What was revealed was shocking. The hulking figure of a man emerged. He was shirtless and covered in tattoos and his long hair fell to his waist in a tangled chaos. Eight large metal rings had been embedded into his chest and abdomen, and from each a chain was fastened. Six of them dangled free, but the remaining two reached behind him and were attached to rusting collars that clung to the necks of two women. Topless and covered in grime, they gripped at the collars, fighting to stay on their feet as he advanced.
Daniela swung the weapon to him, but glanced cautiously to those about her. She also met the imploring stares of the two women on the floor. In the recesses of her mind, she wondered who they were and how they’d come to be enslaved.
The hulking beast of a man inhaled deeply as he assessed her. “You bold to enter Tiraghol,” he told her. “But more foolish.”
It was all Daniela could do to hold the gun steady. She wasn’t about to show any fear. Her survival, she was certain, depended heavily upon the decisions she made within the next few minutes.
“I’m looking for someone,” she told him. “And if you can’t help me, I’m going to leave.”
She dared to take a step toward the door, but three of the men moved to block the portal.
“Stay as you are,” the leader warned.
One of the women at his feet motioned wildly for her to leave. “Run!” she screamed, her face streaked with tears. “Save yourself!” Her outburst earned her a deafening slap that sent her sprawling to the floor.
“Human slut!” her master growled.
A pulsing anger shot through Daniela and she wasted only a moment before she took heed of the warning she’d been issued. As if on its own accord, her finger squeezed on the trigger. The loud bang that ensued reverberated about the chamber and as the bullet flew, Daniela gripped the metal side rail and propelled herself over it with fluid grace.
The incensed roar that echoed behind her told her that she’d not missed her target. She landed hard in ankle-high water that reeked like sewage. She scrambled to her feet, simultaneously slipping her flashlight from her pocket. It flickered on just as she raced down a pathway bathed in darkness. The small light revealed a narrow hallway with a metal stairway at the very end.
Amidst her own splashing retreat, she could hear the sounds of her attackers falling into the water then chasing after her. The racing of her heart matched that of her feet and Daniela suddenly understood exactly why Nicholas had forbidden her to enter the city. The place was dark and evil. Yet, if there was a chance that Elaina was being held here, her decision would’ve remained the same.
A series of loud cries sounded behind her and Daniela hurried up the metal stairs. She gripped the handle of the door and to her dismay discovered that it was locked. Frantically, she tried the knob a few more times, but to no avail. The scrambling proceeded along the hallway and she turned the light just in time to see the form of one of the men appear at the bottom of the steps. He leered up at h
er, his face now distorted as if he was somehow being transformed.
Daniela gasped in disbelief and aimed the gun at him, firing off two rounds. He was struck once in the shoulder and fell backward into the water. The others quickly leaped over him and bounded up the stairs. Daniela turned the gun onto the door handle and squeezed the trigger. The knob flew off and she gripped the edges and swung it open. Not bothering to close it behind her, she fled across a narrow catwalk and came to a screeching halt. The catwalk ended in midair, dangling precariously from two unsteady beams.
Through the door, five creatures emerged. They were hardly like the individuals she’d left behind. Their skin had become ashen as if the life had been sapped from them, their eyes wide and sunken and their mouths gaping portals of hollowed darkness. Together they howled in chaotic unison. For the briefest moment, Daniela found herself drained of all ability to move. Never in her life had she seen such a thing. It was as if she’d stepped into a horror film, only she was starring in it. But she was determined to survive. A shaking hand brought the gun up and she fired two rounds.
Without waiting to see if she’d hit a target or not, she looked over the end of the catwalk. The bottom of the chasm wasn’t visible and a chain-link fence stood on the other side of the eight-foot wide gap. Slipping the flashlight between her teeth she backed up and then ran, leaping off the edge. She closed the gap effortlessly and caught on to the fence. The clanking sounds of those who pursued her swelled behind her as she began climbing upward. The corroded wire bit into her hands, but she ignored it.
A look over her shoulder confirmed that the creatures were not at all deterred. The largest of the group raced forward and leapt into the air. Daniela continued climbing even as the entire fence was rocked by the added weight. From below, she could hear the creature scampering after her with unnatural speed. She swung her gun on him and fired. The bullet struck him in the left arm, but served only to entice his anger. With a blood-chilling cry, he clenched the fence and shook it, sending a rippling wave along the wiring.
Daniela screamed as her feet lost their balance and she found herself dangling by one hand. The flashlight fell from her mouth and was swallowed by the darkness below. With a mighty bound, the creature closed the distance between them and one large hand clamped about her neck. She was roughly yanked away from the fence and extended out into midair. Struggling madly, she fought to pry the thick fingers from about her neck, but it was useless. Her eyes met that of the beast and she knew that her death was certain if she didn’t act soon.
At point-blank range she fired at the creature’s skull, shattering it. His body went limp and he fell backward. She fell with him. Together they toppled for what seemed near thirty seconds until they struck the surface of chilling water.
Completely submerged beneath the dark depths, Daniela could hear the infuriated cries of the creatures who’d been left on the catwalk. The rattling of metal soon followed and she knew that they’d not given up their endeavor to apprehend her. She surged upward until her head broke the water’s surface and sure enough, the creatures were descending the fence. Their eyes fixed to her and their mouths gaped with unnatural dexterity as they howled for vengeance.
She had to get out of the water, and fast! She scanned the area as her eyes adjusted to the new dimness. Something solid and fetid brushed against her arm and she spun around to face it. The decaying and apparently partially eaten body of a young woman floated before her. And it wasn’t alone. The entire surface of the water was littered with corpses, all bobbing lazily to the peaceful symphony of death. A scream clawed its way up Daniela’s throat, but was stifled by the tearful sob that nearly choked her.
Desperate now, she scanned the area a second time. To her right she could make out what appeared to be a platform that rested just above the surface of the water. Set into the wall behind it was a fairly large circle of dim light. She began swimming toward it, simultaneously praying that it was an exit.
The water rippled madly as the creatures sprang from the fence and landed with vibrant splashes. Daniela dared not look behind her. Instead, her strokes became harder and it wasn’t long before she was able to grip the edge of the platform and pull herself out of the water. She’d managed to keep the gun with her and she turned it on the nearest of the beasts.
Click.
The gun was empty. She turned and raced toward the rear wall and to her exhilaration realized that the light she’d seen was indeed an exit. It could’ve been described as a length of piping that ran horizontally through the wall. It was wide enough for a large man to pass through and it rested on a metal rack so that a space was left along the top.
Quickly, she climbed into it and began crawling toward the other side. She could see the flickering and hear the crackling of a large fire and wafts of charred smoke circulated about her. Hope sprang within her chest for she knew that freedom could very well lie at the other end of the piping.
A howl filled the space around her and she cast a look behind her. A hulking shadow was outlined in the entrance. Daniela quickly rolled onto her back and reached inside her pocket for one of the gun magazines. The creature eased into the passage and began making its way toward her. She released the empty magazine from the gun and slammed the new one into place.
Meanwhile, the creature continued its advance. It had all but jammed itself inside the passage, and so it shuffled madly as it tried to squeeze its way toward her.
Daniela pointed the gun it toward the beast and fired off two rounds. The sound of the shots, coupled with the screeching of the creature, was deafening as it reverberated throughout the pipe.
The echo was still in the air when the sound of scampering above her could be heard. One of the creatures was making its way to the other end of the piping. Daniela knew that she couldn’t allow it to reach there before she did. Even if she managed to kill the thing she would be trapped for there was no going back the way she came; once the other end was blocked there was no telling if she’d be able to dislodge the carcass.
She began crawling forward, and then as the scampering noise moved directly above her, she aimed the gun and fired. She was rewarded with a horrendous shriek.
Her dilemma wasn’t over, for the thing hadn’t died. It began to drag itself along the pipe. To make matters worse the sound of more scampering could be heard. Daniela began crawling again.
The creatures moved swiftly and it wasn’t long before she could hear them passing over her as before. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pulled on the trigger, unleashing four bullets one after the other. A cry resounded above her and she didn’t wait to discern if any of the creatures had been killed. She raced toward the exit of the pipe and crawled out.
Struggling to her feet, she looked about quickly and discovered that she’d entered a large dirt pit. On both sides small fires burned, releasing blackened smoke into the open air. A metal stairway climbed the wall of the pit and led to the surface. She moved to run toward it, but an excruciating pain shot through the back of her head and blackness filled her vision. Her legs weakened and she collapsed into the dirt.
Beneath the high-pitched humming in her head, she could hear the clanking of chains, coupled with heavy footfalls. Moaning, she rolled onto her side and as she blinked back the haze in her vision, she could see the hulking figure of the creature with the chains embedded into his chest. One of his chains dangled from his hands and she guessed that it was with this that he’d struck her. The two women remained at his feet, whimpering as if they’d witnessed this before.
Daniela searched the ground for the gun and spotted it about two feet away. She began dragging herself toward it, but got only a few inches before she was snatched off the ground. Face to face with the creature now, Daniela’s life flashed before her eyes. So many things she could’ve done differently. Things she could change if she could go back, if only to save herself—if only to save Elaina.
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Chapter 9
Nicholas slipped the pouch of gold coins from his pocket and placed it into the palm of the witch standing before him. Her greedy talons closed around it and she smiled.
“Is there anything else I may offer you?” she asked.
He brushed past her and headed for the arched doorway. “That will be all, thank you,” he responded as he exited through the black beads that dangled within the portal.
His steps hastened as he took a left down the shadowy tunnel. The sounds of gunfire couldn’t be mistaken, and he knew that something was gravely wrong. Modern weapons were rarely used in Tiraghol. Also, it seemed more than a coincidence that on the very night he’d left the troublesome thief on the outskirts of the city with a loaded gun, that there should be shots fired within the gates.
A few more shots rang out and he quickened his pace until he stood at the exit of the witches’ lair. It was fashioned into the stone and overlooked the majority of the city. From where he stood he could see a great pit that was lit by many fires. Off to one side stood the figure of a tall man with several others at his feet. He bent and gripped the arms of one of the women and raised her roughly to her feet.
Nicholas realized that the woman was Daniela. Anger seeped through him and he reached behind his back and drew his gun. Simultaneously, he leapt down onto one of the flat steel rooftops of the makeshift houses and began racing toward the site. He ran without inhibition, jumping from roof to roof as he bridged the distance between them.
He should’ve known that Daniela wouldn’t have taken his request for her to remain on the surface graciously. But he’d not intended to stay in Tiraghol for more than thirty minutes. And now, in less than that time, she’d managed to get herself captured by what appeared to be a band of shape-shifters.
The Enemy's Kiss Page 9
